When were Everton last in the UEFA Champions League?

Everton sit just six points behind fifth placed Chelsea after defeating Fulham 2-1 at Craven Cottage and a European finish appears well within the realms of possibility.

The Toffees have finished in the bottom half of the Premier League in all of the last four campaigns, with their last top-half finish coming under the stewardship of Carlo Ancelotti in the 2020/21 season.

While Everton are by no means back to their 1980s best, where they clinched two league titles, two FA Cups, four FA Charity Shield and one UEFA Cup Winners' Cup, they have proved a much-improved outfit since the return of David Moyes.

You could argue that we've never seen the Premier League as competitive as it is now, with just eight points separating fourth and 13th, but Everton are enjoying a fruitful campaign and may fancy their chances of finishing within the European spots.

With that said, we take a look at the last time that the Toffees played UEFA Champions League football.

When were Everton last in the UEFA Champions League?

Everton last featured in the UEFA Champions League in the 2005/06 season, where they failed to surpass the third round of qualifying.

David Moyes led the club to a fourth placed Premier League finish in the season prior, meaning the Toffees would have to play a two-legged qualifying contest to reach the UEFA Champions League group stages.

They fell to 2-1 defeats in both the home and away legs, losing the tie 4-2 on aggregate.

The last time that Everton surpassed the qualifying/preliminary rounds of Europe's most prestigious competition was in the 1970/71 term, where it was branded the European Cup.

Everton defeated Keflavík and Borussia Mönchengladbach in the first and second round to reach the quarter-finals, before exiting the competition to Panathinaikos. Despite drawing both games against the Greek outfit, Panathinaikos clinched a crucial goal in a 1-1 draw at Goodison Park and therefore qualified via the away goal rule.